Asking For A Friend

E230: The Fifth Monarchy Men

In this unique epsiode Duffey recounts the story of a small band of radicals in seventeenth-century England. This group is known today as the Fifth Monarchy Men. The Fifth Monarchy Men were Puritans (made up of both Independents and Baptists) who promoted a particular eschatological view of the 'fifth kingdom' of Daniel 2:44 and Daniel 7:26-27. This story recounts some of the Fifth Monarchy Men who became radicalized through the hearing of sermons and the reading of published material, and who saw the imminent need to overthrow the existing government in England through a violent force of arms in order to usher in the millennial kingdom of Christ on earth.

For further reading and study follow the links below:

https://share.google/tUGtJChWkjFjFpahz 

https://londonhistorians.wordpress.com/2017/12/15/the-fifth-monarchy-men-and-a-lesser-known-london-uprising/ 

 

Another recent podcast episode discussing the Fifth Monarchy Men:

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-n5xab-193cc0f 

E229: Book Club #3, Spurgeon the Pastor (Chpt. 2)

Jason and Duffey discuss a book on the pastoral life and theology of the nineteenth-century English Baptist pastor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. This mini-series will be an on-going series in "book club" style. They will read a chapter and discuss it on an episode each month.

This episode covers Chapter 2 (pp. 43-72).

If you'd like to read along, you may purchase a copy here: 

Geoff Chang, Spurgeon The Pastor 

E228: Law and Gospel in Counseling (with Tom Hicks)

In this epsiode, Duffey is joined by Pastor Tom Hicks (FBC Clinton, LA) to discuss the Law and Gospel in counseling. The realm of counseling can seem challenging to navigate when viewed in light of the Christian obligation to obey all of God's commands. Within the life of a local church, pastors often find themselves counseling church members or local folks in their neighborhoods and/or towns. There are many issues that pastors (and others) face in the counseling room. But how should the Law of God factor in to these discussions? How should the Gospel inform these conversations? These and other issues are addressed on this podcast.

 

About our guest: Tom Hicks

https://www.fbcclintonla.com/about-leadership.html 

 

Online articles by Tom Hicks

https://pastortomhicks.com/ 

https://founders.org/author-name/tom-hicks/ 

E227: History of Church Music, Pt. 2 (with Andrew Pressley)

In this epsiode, Duffey is joined again by Andrew Pressley for a discussion on the history of music throughout the ages. This is epsiode Part 2 of a 2-part series and considers the music of the Protestant Reformation up to the Modern era. This episode is aimed offering a wide-angle lens on church music history and seeks to provide awareness of the presence of vast differences of style and tradition. They seek to navigate the difficult conversation of what kind of music is appropriate in church settings? How have Christians thought about this issue in the past? How are we today informed by our current cultural millue regarding the conversation surrounding church music?

E226: Systematic Theology, Doctrine of God (with Patrick Covington)

This episode continues a mini series in systematic theology. For this episode, Duffey is joined by Patrick Covington to discuss questions like:

• What is the doctrine of God?
• Does God exist?
• What is God?
• Who is God?
• What is the trinity?
• How can God be both one and three? 

For further study, see the resources provided below:

Video

• R. C. Sproul
  • https://youtu.be/Bj6mZiRRuUU?feature=shared 
  • https://youtu.be/Sh72wgZEcKk?feature=shared 

Articles 

• Ligonier Ministries
  • https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/reformed-doctrine-god 
  • https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/doctrine-god-recommended-reading 

 

Special Edition: Believers' Baptism with James Renihan (Sept 2025)

In this month's special edition episode, Duffey interviews Dr. James Renihan on the biblical defense for believers baptism. Dr. Renihan has spent much of 2025 travelling to various churches in order to deliver this material over the course of several hours in conference format. In this episode, he offers a condesensed form of his larger presentation.

---------------------------

James Renihan, PhD
President, Professor of Historical Theology at International Reformed Baptist Seminary

After a ministry of church planting in central Massachusetts, Dr. James Renihan and his family moved to Escondido, CA in 1998 to begin serving as Dean of the newly formed Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies. He led that work for 20 years, and when it became IRBS Theological Seminary in 2018 was appointed the first president. He has served as a pastor of churches in Massachusetts, New York and California. He is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (PhD), Seminary of the East (MDiv), Trinity Ministerial Academy, and Liberty Baptist College (BS). His academic work has focused on the Second London Baptist Confession and the broader Puritan theological context from which it arose.

E225: Biblical thoughts on natural disasters and the recent Kerrville, TX floods

In this episode, Jason and Duffey discuss the recent flooding in Kerrville, TX which resulted in the loss of many lives (adult and children). How are Christians to rightly think about the destructive nature of natural disasters and the loss of human life? Where is God in times of crisis? Why doesn't God prevent these types of tragic events?

E224: Book Club #2, Spurgeon the Pastor (Chpt. 1)

Jason and Duffey discuss a book on the pastoral life and theology of the nineteenth-century English Baptist pastor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. This mini-series will be an on-going series in "book club" style. They will read a chapter and discuss it on an episode each month.

This episode covers Chapter 1 (pp. 11-41).

If you'd like to read along, you may purchase a copy here: 

Geoff Chang, Spurgeon The Pastor 

E223: History of Church Music, Pt. 1 (with Andrew Pressley)

In this epsiode, Duffey is joined by Andrew Pressley for a discussion on the history of music throughout the ages. This is epsiode Part 1 and considers the music of the Early Church and into the Middle Ages (the Medieval Church). On this epsiode, they try to address questions and common concerns like:

• How can God's people today think well about the music of the church?
• How can we think well about form and style of music in the church?
• How can we think better about instrumentation and accompaniment in church music today?
• Should we use instruments in worship services? If so, which ones?
• Should we sing in unison or with harmonies?
• Should we sing together (congregationally) or rely upon professionals to do the singing for us?

All of these questions, and many more, have been asked since the time of the Apostles and the first century and will continue to be asked as long as the church remains. Tune in for a (hopefully) informative conversation!

E222: Systematic Theology, Introduction (with Patrick Covington)

This episode begins a new mini-series on the importance of systematic theology. For this episode, Duffey is joined by Patrick Covington to discuss questions like:

• What is systematic theology?
• Why should I care about systematic theology?
• Is systematic theology practical and useful?
• How can the study of systematic theology serve our spiritual growth in Christ?

For further study, see the resources provided below:

Video

• R. C. Sproul https://youtu.be/bIRbcmVC1Q0?feature=shared 

Articles

• Paul Smalley https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/is-systematic-theology-helpful 
• Scott Swain https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-systematic-theology/?srsltid=AfmBOope473U1xP-WpEbAqlxpTbjfjdf6EgnTFKZBK-QqLpx00MoByMm